CHAPTER 23

Zen’s smirk widened into a mocking grin. “Work here? You?" He replied with a voice full of resentment. Zen hadn't been around when Ralph was being recruited, and he had no idea that Ralph was the new assistant manager, who had just been employed, that his secretary told him about. However, he had heard of rumours of Ralph's eviction from JFlier Group, which travelled around the city.

Zen burst into sarcastic laughter. "How the tables have turned! I heard about your little scandal at JFlier Group. Fraud, was it? And here you are, talking about working at my company. How poetic.”

Ralph was unperturbed by Zen's mocking remarks.

“I’m here to do my job, Zen. My past at JFlier Group doesn’t concern you.”

Zen took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with malice. “Oh, but it does concern me, loser. You see, I’ve always waited for the day when you’d fall from your high pedestal. And now, that day has come.” He chuckled. “How does it feel to be on the other side?”

Ralph gave Zen a cold look. He chose not to respond but to continue to watch Zen make a fool of himself.

Zen’s expression hardened. “Let me make something clear, fool. I own this company, and I need to know why you're here." He yelled.

"I'm the new assistant manager," Ralph said, expressionless.

"What?" Zen looked on in disbelief. His secretary had informed him about the new assistant manager, but he hadn't realized that it was Ralph. Upon seeing Ralph, he had only thought that Ralph had just come to apply for a job.

The revelation now hung in the air, thick with tension.

“You’re the new assistant manager?” Zen’s voice was low, but his eyes blazed with fury. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. “I had no idea that you had already been employed here.”

Ralph met his gaze steadily, refusing to be intimidated. “Yes, Zen. I was hired because of my experience and skills. I’m here to help the Clark Mason Industry grow.”

Zen’s fury only seemed to intensify. “You think you can just waltz in here and take over? This is my company, Ralph. Mine! I won’t let you ruin it like you did with JFlier Group!”

Before Ralph could respond, Zen turned to the Human Resources Manager, who had been standing quietly by the door. “Terminate his appointment immediately,” Zen ordered, his voice dripping with contempt.

The HR manager, a middle-aged woman named Mrs. Daniels, cleared her throat nervously. “I’m sorry, Mr. William, but the company’s constitution doesn’t allow for the immediate termination of an executive’s appointment without prior notice. We are required to give at least one month’s notice before such actions can be taken.”

Zen’s face turned a shade darker as he processed this information. He took a deep breath, visibly struggling to calm down. “Fine,” he said through gritted teeth. “We’ll do this by the book.”

He turned back to Ralph, his expression icy. “You have one month, loser, and I'm sure you’re going to fail!” Zen said confidently.

“Clark Mason Industry has been crawling for more than fifteen years despite all efforts to make it fly. It hasn’t gained more than $4000 in monthly revenue in 15 years. Everything seemed to be going wrong in the company until the previous year, when I put in all my efforts, changed staff, and spent millions of dollars. It managed to improve a bit and earn just $5000 monthly. But you,” he pointed a finger at Ralph, “you think you can turn it into a leading company in Doxel City in just one month?”

Ralph met Zen’s gaze, his determination unwavering. “I’m not here to make empty promises, Zen. I’m here to do the work.”

Zen laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. “Let’s make a bet then. Within one month, if you can make Clark Mason earn at least $20 million in monthly revenue and rise to become one of the leading companies in Doxel City, I will make you the CEO. I’ll even give you all my possessions, including emptying my bank account for you. But if you don’t achieve this feat, your appointment will be terminated. Everything you have left will be taken from you. I will also collect every qualification you have and set them on fire.”

The room fell silent as Zen’s words hung in the air. Ralph smiled, understanding the gravity of the challenge. “I accept your bet,” he said firmly. “One month. $20 million in revenue.”

Zen’s smile widened, his eyes glinting with malicious amusement. “Excellent. Let’s see what a loser like you is really made of!” He said this as he left Ralph's presence. He was pretty sure that Ralph couldn't help the company make up to a million dollars, let alone twenty million! Zen saw the bet as an opportunity to get back at Ralph and strip him of all he had, including whatever it was that made him successful.